***This field experience is conditionally approved and will only run if health and safety conditions, including Costa Rica visa and entry restrictions, US Dept. of State Travel Warning and CDC Travel Health Notice, permit.***

The location: With about 5% of the world’s species, Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. The lush wild natural environment can be experienced all throughout the country. The country has been hailed as an example of successful sustainable development. However, social, environmental and economic problems persist. Exploring those problems and possible solutions, this program will be based in the capital of Costa Rica, San José, and in the southeast Limon province, in the indigenous community of Yorkín. In San José, students will meet with community leaders in La Carpio, a squatter community located next to a massive landfill. Here they will learn about challenges of urban development in Costa Rica. In Yorkín, students will meet with the Bribri, Costa Rica’s largest group of indigenous people, to learn about the challenges of rural development and about life in the indigenous territories. Additional planned excursions include the beach town of Puerto Viejo, a rainforest canopy tour in Sarapiquí, and visits to the Poás Volcano and an organic coffee farm.

Course Work and Highlights: In this course, students will learn how to promote collective problem-solving skills to address critical environmental, economic, and social issues. Connections between sustainability, poverty, and equity issues will highlighted. This course will include a multi-week field experience in Costa Rica with virtual meetings before and after. Education students will engage in 10 hours of classroom-based field experience in Costa Rican K12 schools. Social Work students and non-majors will engage in 10 hours of field experience connecting with students and communities in non-classroom settings.

Housing: In San José, housing will be hostel style: bunk beds in rooms divided by gender. In Yorkín, housing will be very rustic with limited electricity, no heated water and bunks with bug netting. Students will be in bunk rooms divided by gender In Puerto Viejo, lodging on the beach will be a simple but comfortable beachfront hotel with double and triple rooms primarily.

Prerequisites: Education majors must have taken EDU 104.

Eligibility:
Chatham undergraduate students must have good academic standing and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at the time of application and at the commencement of spring 2021 semester. Students must have completed at least 30 undergraduate credits at the time of travel, including at least 15 credits completed at Chatham at the time of travel.
Students must have good judicial standing (to be verified by Office of Student Affairs) and good financial standing at Chatham (to be verified by Student Accounts).
Students must be current Chatham students at the time of the field experience to participate.

The minimum enrollment for this course is 16 students. Each field experience is self-supporting and must meet its minimum enrollment number or it will be cancelled.